Dog bites can be painful and traumatic. They can also be expensive to treat. If you were bitten by someone else’s dog in Berwick, Pennsylvania, call Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC at (570) 714-4878 for a free case review today. An experienced Berwick dog bite lawyer can help you fight to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, trauma, and more.
Our lawyers have over 100 years of legal experience between us. Since we opened our law practice, we’ve recovered over $150 million in settlements and verdicts. Whether you were bitten by a neighborhood pet, an unleashed dog, or a violent and dangerous animal, our team is here to help.
Why Should I Call Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC To Get Help Recovering Compensation After a Dog Bite in Berwick?
If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Berwick, PA, you may quickly start wondering where to turn for help. You don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. Our experienced Berwick personal injury attorneys at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC are here to fight for you. We have the skills to help you stand up to the insurance companies and fight for every available dollar.
Our experienced team has been recognized for our success, including by:
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers
- The Million Dollar Advocates’ Forum
- Our satisfied clients with a five-star Google rating.
Are you ready to learn more about how an experienced Berwick personal injury attorney can fight to protect your interests? Call us today for a free consultation.
How Common Are Dog Bites in Pennsylvania?
Every year, roughly 4.5 million Americans are forced to struggle with dog bite injuries. CDC reports indicate that about 800,000 of those dog bite victims require medical treatment.
The Insurance Information Institute publishes statistics on dog bite injury insurance claims. According to their most recent reports, Pennsylvania insurance companies paid out about $89 million to settle dog bite injury claims in 2024.
1,004 dog bite injury victims filed claims across Pennsylvania that year. That means the Commonwealth ranks fifth on the list of states with the most cases.
How Much Money Is My Berwick Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?
Important factors that our attorneys will assess as we assess your case value include:
- Medical treatment costs
- How severely you were injured
- Your total lost wages to date
- Whether you’ll be able to return to work at the same earning level
- The emotional impact you have experienced
- The nature of the dog owner’s actions or omissions
- The dog’s prior history
It’s impossible to put a dollar value on a personal injury case without understanding the facts. The best way to determine your case value is to consult an experienced Berwick dog bite attorney.
Our attorneys at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, offer free consultations. Reach out to schedule a time to discuss your options today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Dog Bite Injury Victims in Berwick?
Two basic categories of compensatory damages are available in Pennsylvania.
Dog bite injury victims may be able to recover economic damages from the dog’s owner. Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages account for more intangible and personal suffering, such as:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD and fear
- Diminished quality of life
Our attorneys in Berwick are committed to helping injury victims recover the full amount they deserve. Ultimately, the available damages will depend on your unique situation.
What Should I Do if the Defendant Is Blaming Me for Provoking the Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
Provocation is a very common defense in dog bite injury cases. If the defendant can prove you did something that would reasonably provoke a dog to bite or attack, your damages will be impacted.
Pennsylvania has adopted modified comparative negligence laws. You can recover compensation if you are 50% or less at fault. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover damages.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Law Firm To Handle a Dog Bite Claim in Pennsylvania?
You shouldn’t worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer. Our lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC, take cases on a contingency fee basis.
What this means is:
- There are no out-of-pocket costs or fees to hire our attorneys
- You’ll agree to pay a percentage of your final compensation award
- There are no hourly rates
- We only get paid if we succeed in recovering compensation for you
Once your case is settled or we’ve secured a jury verdict, we’ll deduct a fixed percentage from your compensation award. This ensures you can always afford quality legal representation. It also means your attorney is highly motivated to maximize your compensation award.
Dog Bite Victims in Berwick Often Struggle With Severe and Life-Changing Injuries
Dog bites can lead to painful and serious injuries. The severity of a dog bite victim’s injuries can vary based on the victim’s size, the dog’s size, weight, and strength, and the situation in general.
Our attorneys at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC represent clients with all types of injuries, including:
- Deep puncture wounds and lacerations
- Torn skin
- Damages to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Shoulder and joint injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Infections
- Amputations and organ damage in the most serious cases
Many victims suffer multiple injuries. Medical bills can start to add up quickly. Consulting an attorney sooner rather than later is the best way to protect yourself after an injury.
What Do I Have To Prove To Recover Compensation After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law governing dog bite cases is more nuanced than in many other states. It combines elements of strict liability and negligence, depending on the type of damages being sought.
Under Pennsylvania law:
- A dog owner is strictly liable for a victim’s medical expenses, even if the dog had no prior history of aggression.
- To recover additional damages—such as pain and suffering, lost wages, or emotional distress—the victim must generally prove that the owner was negligent, or the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous propensities (sometimes referred to as the “one-bite rule” concept).
In other words, while you may be entitled to recover medical costs regardless of the dog’s history, full compensation typically requires additional evidence of fault.
In all cases, you’ll need evidence. When you hire our attorneys, we’ll interview neighbors, search for prior complaints about the dog, and locate any evidence that can prove your case.
How Can I Prove That a Pennsylvania Dog Owner Was Negligent?
A dog’s owner is negligent if they fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent their animal from harming you.
The four elements of negligence are:
- The owner’s duty of care
- A breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
A dog’s owner can breach their duty in any number of ways. All too often, dog owners breach their duty by failing to keep their dogs properly confined or restrained. Allowing a dog to roam freely creates a risk for everyone.
Dangerous Dogs and Pennsylvania Dog Bite Cases
Pennsylvania law provides additional rules for dogs that have been legally classified as “dangerous.”
If a dog has been formally designated as dangerous under state law, the owner may be held fully liable for all damages resulting from an attack, regardless of prior knowledge or negligence.
A dog may be classified as dangerous if it has, for example:
- Caused serious injury to a person without provocation
- Killed or seriously injured a domestic animal off the owner’s property
- Been used in the commission of a crime
- Demonstrated a history of aggressive behavior
Owners of dangerous dogs are also subject to strict legal requirements, such as secure confinement, proper signage, and maintaining liability insurance.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite Injury in Pennsylvania?
Under Pennsylvania law, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The two-year clock begins running on the date of the dog bite. Missing the deadline has serious consequences. You’ll completely lose your right to pursue compensation after two years pass.
Most personal injury claims are resolved via insurance negotiations. Still, you don’t want to let the deadline pass. Once the statute of limitations expires, the insurance company will have very little reason to negotiate a good-faith settlement.
Call Our Berwick Dog Bite Lawyers for a Free Case Evaluation Today
Our trusted legal team at Fellerman & Ciarimboli, Law PC has the experience and resources to secure the compensation you deserve in Berwick, Pennsylvania. After a dog bite, call an experienced Berwick dog bite attorney to learn about your legal rights and options. Visit our office in Berwick, PA.